Arch support for shoes



NOV 2, UGER 7 2,097,958

ARCH SUPPORT FOR SHOES Filed Aug. 20, 1936 lnuentur Aral-L U E:I

Patented Nov. 2, 1937 UNITED STATES owest FATENT OFFICE ARCH SUPPORT FOR SHOES Aron Uger, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada Application August 20, 1936, Serial N0. 96,950

1 Claim.

My invention relates to improvements in arch supports'for shoes and the object of my invention is to provide an arch support which is preferably a built-in part of the shoe, being anchored at one end to the shoe structure and at the other end slidably positioned within the shoe structure.

A further object of my invention is to so construct and secure my arch support that it has a free upward spring movement, but a limited movement in its downward and forward travel.

Another object of my invention is to furnish the forward end of the arch support with a tongue which is inserted underneath the insole of the shoe through a suitably positioned slot, such tongue retaining the arch support in position and also forming a metatarsal supporting pad, and a still further object of my invention is to provide the central portion of my arch support with a thin steel resilient plate of substantially triangular shape and secured to the bottom face of the arch.

With these and other objects in view, as shall be hereinafter described, my invention consists of an arch support formed and arranged all as hereinafter more particularly described, and illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. l is a plan view of a shoe provided with my invention, the major portion of the upper being broken away to disclose the arch support.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view through the shoe, being taken through the line 22, Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an inverted plan view of my arch support.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the toe end of the insole.

Fig. 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view through the shoe, being taken through the line 5-5, Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of an alternate form of my invention, wherein the arch support is provided with a tongue at each end.

Fig. 7 is a plan view of an insole designed to receive an arch support as illustrated in Fig. 6, and

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a metatarsal pad which may be inserted through the slot in the insole in conjunction with, or place of, the forward tongue of my arch support.

Like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different views of the drawmg.

My invention is applicable to the standard type of shoe as illustrated in the drawing, that is a shoe having an outsole I, an upper 2, a heel 3, and

an insole t formed as a permanent part of the shoe structure.

My arch support is adapted to rest upon the insole 4 and'comprises a flat heel portion 5, an arched central portion 6 and a forward portion 1 5 which. extends to the vicinity of the metatarsal bones of an inserted foot. The central portion 6 of the arch support is so curved that it is spaced away from the central portion 8 of the insole and such portion 6 may be suitably reinforced as by 10 a thin triangular plate of spring steel 9 which is secured to the arch support by rivets ID. The arch support may also be formedalong its inner edge with a turned-up lip H which supports the inner portion of the arch of the foot. 15 In my preferred construction the heel portion of my arch support is permanently secured to the heel of the shoe, as by sprigs I2 driven through the rearward portion of the arch support into the heel. The forward end of the arch support is formed with a forwardly extending tongue i3 which is narrower than the width of the arch support whereby a pair of shoulders M are formed. The tongue I3 is forwardly inserted through a slot IS in the insole so that it lies between the lower face of the insole and the upper face of the outsole as illustrated in Fig. 2. The tongue is tapered around its edges so that it can be easily inserted through the slot l5 and also forms that portion of the insole above the tongue into a gently sloping metatarsal supporting pad IS.

The slot i5 is so positioned in relation to the forward end of the arch support that before the foot is inserted, the shoulders Id of the support do not quite come into contact with the ends of the slot. However, when the weight of the foot is applied, the support tends to flatten and as the rearward end of the support is anchored to the heel, the front end of the support slides forwardly a slight degree until further movement is arrested, through the engagement of the shoulders H! with the ends of the slot. It will thus be seen that while the arch support is secured in place within the shoe it is at the same time free to adjust itself to the requirements of the foot of the wearer.

In Figs. 6 and 7 I show an alternative construction wherein the arch support H6 as well as being provided with a forward tongue I! is furnished with a rearwardly extending tongue I8. The tongues I! and I8 are inserted through forward and rearward slots l9 and 20 in the insole 2! in the same manner as before described. In 3 5 flohstruction the arch is free to adjust 5 itself both at its forward and rearward ends, the shoulders, formed between the ends of the arch and the tongues, engaging the ends of the slots and retaining the arch against entirely flattening under the weight of the foot. In the form of arch support illustrated in Fig. 6 the lip l I is not provided, although it is to be understood that it can be used in any of my constructions.

In Fig. 8 I illustrate a pad 22 which may be inserted through the forward slot in the insole in the same position underneath the insole as the forward tongueof the arch support to consti tute a metatarsal pad. This pad may be either used in conjunction with the arch support tongue in cases where a metatarsal pad of extra thickness is required, or may be used apart altogether from the insole tongue.

My arch support is preferably made of leather and while I have shown a spring plate 9 secured to the under face of the arch, it is to be understood that it is not always necessary to provide 'be advantageous to construct the entire arch support of thin sheet spring metal. While in my drawing I have shown my invention as applied to a ladys shoe, it will be apparent that it is also applicable to mens shoes.

While I have shown and described the tongues on my arch support as extending through slots in the insole into pockets formed by the insole and the outsole, it will be appreciated that I may sew or otherwise secure tongue receiving pockets upon the upper face of the insole and wherein the shoulders formed on the arch support would contact the ends of the pocket opening in the same Way as they contact the ends of the slot, to retard the arch against undue elongation.

As the basis of my invention is to furnish a resilient arch support which is a self-adjustable part of a shoe construction, it will be apparent that my support can be constructed of any suit able shape or material. Therefore, while I have shown and described a particular embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that I can make such changes and alterations in my arch support construction as I may from time to time deem necessary without departing from the spirit of my invention as set forth in the appended claim.

What I claim as my invention is:

In a shoe, the combination with the insole and an arch support made of relatively stiif leather, of an integral tongue secured to and projecting from the forward end of the arch support and slidably extending through a transverse slot positioned in the insole slightly rearwardly of the metatarsal arch of the foot, and shoulders formed on the arch support adjacent to the tongue and engaging the edge of the slot to limit the forward movement of the tongue within the slot, the major portion of the tongue being positioned underneath the insole and raising that portion of the insole upwardly to constitute a metatarsal pad adjacent to the forward end of the arch support.

ARON UGER. 

